“So Tivian is already sending someone over? That’s great.”
On the cathedral in the middle of the lake, Gaspard looked pleased upon hearing Vania’s words. He nodded and continued.
“After all, we’re just a relic tour party, not an agency equipped to handle something like this. Having specialists arrive to take over the matter is the best outcome. This mysterious ruin is large, and handling it properly would take time. We still have a long journey ahead on our tour.”
Gaspare spoke to Vania earnestly. She nodded in agreement and replied.
“For us, continuing the pilgrimage remains our top priority. Still, I’m a little excited. I wonder whether the experts from Tivian will choose to conduct the Sanctification Ritual soon. If it doesn’t take too long, maybe we’ll get to witness, or even participate in one.”
“Mm... Discovering an important ritual site of heretical or foreign origin during a pilgrimage, then participating in a Sanctification Ritual to bring it under the Church’s light—Sister Vania, that would reflect well on not only you, but our entire relic tour group. Within the Church, it would make for excellent publicity. It’s a good opportunity to boost your standing and influence…”
Gaspard analyzed the matter aloud, and Vania nodded again.
“That would certainly be one of the benefits. But more than that, I truly want to witness such a sacred ritual for myself. After all, I was born from the Historical Scripture Department—I can’t help but be curious.
“But in the end, everything depends on what the Tivian specialists determine after their initial survey. It’s possible that the conditions here won’t allow for an immediate Sanctification Ritual. If that’s the case, we’ll have no choice but to continue the pilgrimage.”
“Let’s hope it goes smoothly. The pace of this tour has been a little intense—city after city. Everyone’s feeling a bit worn out. If we get to stay and rest a few more days, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing. I quite like this city.”
“Let’s hope so… In any case, I’m going to make preparations for the Tivian team’s arrival. I’ll leave the security of the cathedral to your squad.”
With that, Vania turned to leave. Gaspard gave a nod and replied.
“No problem. Leave everything here to us, Sister Vania. Go take care of what you need.”
…
After parting with Gaspard, Vania took a boat back from the lake cathedral to the shore. No sooner had she stepped onto land than a young nun in an ordinary habit came toward her, cradling several documents and greeting her politely.
“Sister Vania!”
“…And you are?”
Looking at the nun who approached, Vania asked in slight confusion. The young woman immediately responded.
“I’m Peri, a subordinate nun from the local church in Glamorne. It’s an honor to meet you, Sister Vania. You mentioned to Bishop Hogg that Tivian would be sending personnel, so I was sent to assist with the reception. Do you have any information on the arriving members? We need to prepare to welcome them properly.”
Peri spoke formally. Vania understood right away and responded.
“Oh, so it’s about that. Good timing. I have here the personnel list from Tivian, including their departure and expected arrival time. The train they’ll be on is also listed. It’s only a small advance team—four or five people. Nothing too elaborate.”
As she spoke, Vania pulled a folded sheet of paper from her robes and handed it to Peri. The young nun accepted it with thanks.
“Ah, thank you so much for your cooperation! This makes our job so much easier!”
“It’s nothing—just a small gesture. Is there anything else?”
Vania asked with a smile. Peri quickly replied.
“No, Sister Vania. Please return to your duties—we’ll handle the reception.”
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
With that, Vania walked away in her usual calm and steady manner. After she left, the nun named Peri exhaled in relief, then carefully unfolded the sheet of paper and began to read its contents.
And at that very moment—unseen by Peri—a faint wisp of blood mist appeared behind her, drifting silently through the ordinary air. It coalesced into a vague, blurry eye that locked its gaze onto the document in Peri’s hands, scanning its every word.
…
On the other side, after parting with Peri, Vania continued strolling along the shores of Lake Starbind. She walked leisurely in the gentle breeze, gazing at the pleasant scenery across the lake. When her gaze once again settled on the towering cathedral at the lake’s center, she couldn’t help but stop in her tracks.
Facing the cathedral across the water, Vania recalled the many things she had seen inside. A wave of thoughts surged within her, casting a faint look of complexity and confusion across her face—until a familiar voice echoed in her heart and brought her inner turmoil to stillness.
“Everything is progressing smoothly. You’ve done very well, Vania. Truly, thank you for your efforts.”
Hearing this familiar voice inside her mind, Vania blinked slightly in surprise. Realizing it was a telepathic message from Dorothy via Aka, she quickly responded mentally.
“Miss Dorothea… Are you using a puppet to observe me again? Didn’t you say before that using puppets in front of Crimson-rank Eight-Spired members is very risky?”
“Yes… Their blood mist lingers throughout the air. If one of my puppets is exposed to it and gets infiltrated, it’ll be detected immediately. Since my puppets are aligned with the Chalice Path and they also possess control over Chalice, they’re at a higher level than me in that regard—which is troublesome.
“So this time I’m not using puppets. I’m leveraging some high-level secrets embedded within the lake itself—things even they haven’t noticed—to observe you. This form of vision is limited to the lake and its immediate surroundings, but for now, it’s enough.”
Dorothy’s voice echoed again in Vania’s heart. Hearing this, Vania paused briefly and then responded thoughtfully.
“High-level secrets contained within the lake itself… So it’s related to the nature of that cathedral in the lake, right? Miss Dorothea, that cathedral… does it have something to do with Aka? That statue inside—why does it look so much like you? Is the deity it depicts…”
It seemed Vania was on the verge of saying something more, but Dorothy’s voice gently interrupted.
“The mysteries behind this… are tied to profound secrets between the gods. As for such knowledge—when a god chooses not to share it with us, we should not forcibly pursue it.
“I too have my own doubts regarding the cathedral’s secrets. But if we follow Aka’s guidance, unraveling the mysteries piece by piece, one day we will understand. Until the fated time arrives, don’t rush. This applies to both you and me.”
Dorothy’s tone was patient and profound. Vania, hearing this, paused for a long moment, then finally nodded as clarity dawned in her heart.
“Do not seek divine truth through force… Our task is to rely on our own wisdom and strength, under divine guidance, to solve the mystery step by step. When the destined moment comes, all shall be revealed…
“That is Aka’s teaching as the deity of knowledge, correct? Did I understand it properly, Miss Dorothea?”
Vania asked with a newfound sense of realization. Dorothy paused slightly before responding.
“Mm… ah… yes, that’s basically the idea. You’ve grasped it well, Vania. For now, let’s focus on what lies ahead. As long as we follow the signs, the confusion in our hearts will eventually be resolved.”
“I see… that’s a relief. I guess I did understand it correctly.”
Vania responded with subtle joy in her heart.
“I don’t know what Aka’s full intentions are, but I trust there is deeper meaning in Their guidance. The Eight-Spired Nest is a malignant cult that poses a grave threat to the world—whatever plot they’re stirring here, we can’t allow it to go unchecked. I believe the Holy Mother, too, would want me to do all I can to stop them. I’ll continue assisting you, Miss Dorothea.”
After a short pause, Dorothy responded with quiet warmth.
“Thank you for always trusting me, Vania.”
…
Behind the mirror, within the hidden space on the inner side of Lake Starbind, Dorothy floated in the colorless void above the mirror lake—now devoid of the Mirror Moon Cathedral. Just like in Yadith, Dorothy used this hidden realm to observe the material world safely.
Although the cathedral had ascended to the real world, the hidden realm still remained. With her ring now reactivated, Dorothy could move freely between the two realms around Lake Starbind. It was through this space that she could safely spy on many of the Eight-Spired Nest’s movements.
“Whew… I managed to bluff my way through that…”
After finishing her telepathic conversation with Vania, Dorothy exhaled softly. When Vania had asked about the origin of the Mirror Moon Cathedral and the resemblance between the statue and herself, Dorothy had found herself at a loss. She didn’t truly understand the cathedral’s nature, or why the statue bore such a striking resemblance to her. She could only hide behind Aka’s name and utter some vague talk of divine mysteries—but thankfully, Vania, being a devout priestess, had “interpreted” the truth on her own.
With Vania soothed, Dorothy looked up slightly, toward the distant structure—now relocated to the mirrored world’s far side. She gazed at the Radiance Church personnel stationed on the building and thought to herself.
“Just as I expected… The Eight-Spired Nest may trample over the Serenity Bureau, but when it comes to the Church—especially Holy Mount—they don’t dare act so recklessly. If they stir up trouble now, it could disrupt their entire strategy across the country.”
Bringing the cathedral into the public eye—right in front of the Radiance Church’s heavily scrutinized relic tour—was Dorothy’s strategic play. The presence of Holy Mount’s entourage was enough to intimidate the Eight-Spired Nest. As long as Vania remained in Glamorne, they wouldn’t dare act openly.
That was the leverage Vania had earned from her involvement in numerous incidents tied to Church authority this past year. Her personal power may still have been White Ash-rank, but her influence within the Church now exceeded that of many Crimsons. Her fame and reputation surpassed most archbishops, and in a faith-driven institution like the Radiance Church, that kind of intangible power could deter even the Nest’s Crimsons.
With Vania present, Dorothy had gained the breathing room she needed. She no longer had to worry about the Nest breaching the lake’s secret during the next full moon and taking the cathedral. The replacement ritual wasn’t something that could be performed casually—neither Dorothy nor the Eight-Spired Nest could monopolize the site alone.
Still, buying time was just that—buying time. It wasn’t a true solution. Right now, both sides were locked in a stalemate—unable to act freely, yet unwilling to back down. But this standoff wouldn’t last forever. Both the Nest and Dorothy would be actively seeking a breakthrough.
And at present, that breakthrough wouldn’t come from Lake Starbind—or even from Glamorne.
“Speaking of which… Nephthys should have made it back to Tivian by now…”
Dorothy touched her chin as she pondered the situation afar and murmured quietly.
…
Time flew by. One day later—on the eastern side of the main island of Pritt—Tivian.
In the early morning, the streets before West Tivian Station were blanketed in a fog of strange odors. Horse-drawn carriages rushed back and forth on the broad roads, dropping off and picking up crowds of travelers burdened with luggage. People poured in and out of the train station in a chaotic stream. In the distance, train whistles echoed faintly through the mist—a bustling, crowded scene.
On the second floor of a teahouse by the station entrance, a dark-skinned woman in a long coat and wide-brimmed hat sat at a window seat. She sipped her tea slowly while watching the crowd below through her sunglasses, clearly waiting for someone.
After she refilled her teacup for the third time, something in the crowd seemed to catch her attention. She slowly removed her sunglasses and looked down—at a small group of people walking toward the station entrance. They wore clerical robes and carried large travel cases.
“They’re here...”
Watching the group, Nephthys finished her tea in one swift motion, then rose smoothly from her seat.